Police crack down on handicapped tag abuse

Boston motorists are scoring plum free-parking spots by fraudulently using handicapped parking passes meant for their relatives - even some who are dead - sparking a police crackdown..

Dave Wedge

Boston motorists are scoring plum free-parking spots by fraudulently using handicapped parking passes meant for their relatives - even some who are dead - sparking a police crackdown.

“People are putting up these handicapped placards and getting out of their cars clearly without any difficulty,” Boston police Capt. Bernard O'Rourke said. “They try to sneak out of their car and put up the placard which doesn't belong to them. Often it's (a pass belonging to) a family member or worse, a family member who has died.”

In recent weeks, O'Rourke has assigned bike cops to find scofflaws after fielding complaints about fakers swiping coveted spots reserved for handicapped motorists in Chinatown and other downtown areas. Most of the violations have occurred during normal work hours.

“If you have a placard you can park there all day free,” O'Rourke said. “They were taking these spots and going to work in the area.”

Statewide, abuse is also on the rise as violations reported to the Registry of Motor Vehicles have surged by about 30 percent this year. The RMV has handled 323 citations of the handicapped placard law this year, compared to 249 in 2008. Of those cited this year, 163 have been found responsible while 80 were cleared. Eighty other cases are pending.